Potty Training

[maxfox426]

I forgot to add this question in with my last thread.

Morgan still doesn't give any cues to tell us when he needs to go outside. From the housebreaking scheme that I've been following, I was under the impression that he would be giving us a signal of some sort once he understood the concept (such as waiting by the door). I posted maybe last week that he did that a couple times, and now he doesn't anymore.

Is this common? Am I asking for too much from a puppy this young? Yes, I know I'm impatient... but I'm not necessarily asking for perfection. I really just need to know that progress is being made, though, and I am having trouble gauging that.

I don't mean to be a pest and ask potentially dumb questions...

Thanks again!

 

[Dana1384]

You can try hanging a bell by the door that he can reach. Everytime the door opens the bell rings is the idea. Show him where the bell is and try to get him to touch it and if he does open the door. Sooner or later he will understand if the bell rings the door opens and he gets to go out.

I have been working with my new puppy with it, and he is starting to ring it himself when we go to the door, He is also 3 months old. good luck

 

[lizzybeth727]

I'm sorry, I don't remember how old your puppy is, I think that information might help.

Most of the time, puppies don't tell you when they need to go potty - think about how hard it is to get toddlers to tell us when they need to go! That's why it's so important for us humans to know our puppies' signals and body language that means "I have to go." Many times these can be sniffing, pacing, restlessness, going to the door and whining if you're lucky. Of course you will be reinforceing these behaviors when you take your puppy outside as he is doing the behavior. For example, if he happens to sit at the door, and you jump up to take him out, he learns that going to the door is telling you to take him out. If he goes to the door and you ignore him, he learns that going to the door doesn't work, and he should try something else. If he is sniffing and pacing, and you take him out, he learns that THAT is his signal for getting you to let him out. So you're taking a behavior he's probably going to do anyway, but then teaching each other the cues.

 

[Sch3Dana]

Some puppies learn to tell you they need to go without any direct training and others need a little more structured training to understand this. The first thing is to decide if you really want to encourage the bossiness. I love it, because I forget to let the dogs out. Other people may prefer a dog that waits for the scheduled time or uses the doggy door. If you really want him to tell you, I suggest teaching the dog to bark at you, not the door. Any kind of indication at the door will be missed if you are upstairs. For a small house or apartment, the indication at the door is fine. But it sounds like your house may be too big for this to work well.

Here is an article about training the barking. It gives you a choice of two different methods. It sounds like barking is Morgan's forte', so either should work , but do be careful that the barking doesn't lead to fun walks and play time or your other barking problems will increase!

http://thehousebreakingbible.com/training/barking-training.htm

 

[maxfox426]

You can try hanging a bell by the door that he can reach. Everytime the door opens the bell rings is the idea.

Hmmm... that is an interesting idea. I may have to try that.

I'm sorry, I don't remember how old your puppy is, I think that information might help.

Most of the time, puppies don't tell you when they need to go potty - think about how hard it is to get toddlers to tell us when they need to go! That's why it's so important for us humans to know our puppies' signals and body language that means "I have to go."

He is 14-15 weeks old, based on his records from the shelter. So still very young.

I have been very careful to watch for when he goes and sits near the door, or if he touches the glass (the backyard has a sliding door) with his nose. I hook up his leash and take him right out to his spot whenever he does that, but he only does it every once in a long while... so I'm guessing the association is not there yet.

Here is an article about training the barking. It gives you a choice of two different methods. It sounds like barking is Morgan's forte', so either should work , but do be careful that the barking doesn't lead to fun walks and play time or your other barking problems will increase!

Thanks for the tips and the link! I am definitely leaning more towards the "bossy" end of things, though I am afraid of messing up and creating more barking troubles. *sigh* The barking really IS his forte... Lol! I am going to be reading that site VERY thoroughly before I change anything!

I think you are right... Although we spent most of our time downstairs, the house is pretty big and I hadn't thought of the possibility of missing the cue if he is just waiting by the door. Hmmmmmmmm...



Thank you!

 

[girlbuffalo1]

Wrigley never went to the door and still doesn't--I just take him out on a consistant basis--if he really has to go he will whine--you just need to be staring at him constantly and don't let him out of your sight.